Correlation of Serum Calcium with severity of acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke results in death of around 5.5 million people annually with approximately 20% of these deaths occurring in South Asia. It is the foremost cause of disability worldwide. Among the various risk factors identified, serum calcium has been hypothesized to play a significant role in the development of ischemic stroke and act as a prognosticator. This study was conducted to determine the correlation if any between serum calcium and severity of acute ischemic stroke in our population.

Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of those patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute stroke and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted at Aga Khan University from a period of January 2018 to December 2018. Characteristics of stroke patients were compared stroke severity.

Results: 279 patients were inducted, 58% (n = 162) were male with a mean age of 62.4 ± 13.8. Mean albumin corrected serum calcium and Scandinavian stroke severity score was 9.1 ± 5.6 and 33.67 ± 15.2 respectively. Hypertension and mean GCS on admission were significantly associated with increases stroke severity. However, mean serum calcium was not significant associated with stroke severity.

Conclusion: No correlation was observed between serum calcium and severity of acute ischemic stroke. Further studies targeting South Asian population are required to assess the significance of serum calcium as a prognostic marker of stroke outcome.

Key Words: Stroke, calcium, scandinavian stroke severity scale, cerebral ischemia

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